Signaling device.



No. 848,482." BATENTED MAR.- 26, 1907.-

' R. H. MoGRAGKIN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION 11.31) JULY 14, 1906.

' TED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters I Patent.

Patented March 26, 1907.

Application filed m 14, 1906. Serial No. 326.215.

This invention relates to signaling devices designed for use upon rural mail-boxes, and has for its objects to provide a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which will disclose at a glance as to whether or not the box contains mail-matter, one

wherein the signaling member may be conveniently set, and one which may be readily seen at a point considerably remote from the box.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a box equipped with a signaling device embodying the invention. Fig.

2 is a plan view of the signaling member turned to a horizontal position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a mail-box, having a cover 2, to which is hinged a hasp 3, adapted for engagement with a staple 4, in turn designed to receive the shackle of a lock 5, these parts, which are conventionally shown herein, being of the usual or any preferred construction and material and adapted in practice to perform their ordinary functions.

Attached to the bottom of the box is a forwardly-projecting support, preferaby in the form of a hinge-leaf 6, having forwardlyprojecting transversely-spaced bracket-arms 7, terminating at their outer ends in hinged knuckles 8, formed to receive a pintle 9, on which is pivoted a signaling member or blade 10, provided at a point between its ends with an opening or slot 11, formed to receive the stapled, it being observed that the blade, which may be painted red or other appropri- 1 ate color, is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane and to assume an upright position at the front of the box.

In practice after mail-matter has been placed in the box thecover is closed and the hasp applied over the staple 4, after which the signaling-blade is swung upward to up right position, as seen in Fig. 1, with the staple projecting outward through the opening 11, the lock 5 being finally applied to the staple for locking thebox and maintaining the blade 10 in signaling position. It will be understood that when the box is empty the blade 10 will be thrown down to non-signaling position, thus advertising the fact that no mail-matter is contained in the box. It will be observed that under this arrangement the carrier will be entirely relieved of the trouble and annoyance attendant upon dismounting and inspecting boxes which, in fact, contain no mail, and, further, that the signaling memher is susceptible of ready manipulation for the purposes in view.

, Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is In a device of the class described and, in combination with a box having a cover, a hasp attached to the cover, a staple secured to the box for engagement by the hasp, a horizontal support attached to the bottom of the box and projecting forwardly thereof, a signaling-blade hinged to the forwardlyprOjecting portion of the support for movement to and from vertical signaling position, said blade being provided with an opening to receive the staple, and a locking member adapted for engagement with the staple to lock the box and hold the signaling-blade in signaling position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBE RT H. MOORAOKIN.

Witnesses:

WV. R. MoORAcKIN, W. N. ALEXANDER. 

